May 2025

 Welcome to the May 2025 recap! Here are some random pics showing a little bit of how we spent this month.

As I've mentioned before, I'm the Cheer Coach at Presley's middle school (and my former workplace) and Dylan helps coach the football team. Our football season takes place end of April and all of May. I have made the decision that this will be my last year as Cheer Coach for Shahala Middle School. By stepping down, I can attend all of the softball, baseball and football games that Dylan and Presley will be playing at next year in high school. It is a good time to end my 4+ years as a coach.

While I typically ask my squad to create a big 'break-through' poster for the team to run through each game, I had an idea to ask the football players themselves to write notes of inspiration or goals on their poster. I love that they got involved.

One of my favorite things about wrapping up a cheer season is watching the success of my cheerleaders earn their spot on a high school squad. All 5 girls that tried out for high school cheer made their team!

Across the street from my work there is a decent sized food pod. The Cravory is my absolute fave truck and when Dylan neglected to spend some time with me between a school day and a football game, I had to show him what he was missing.

I received this in my inter-district mail system from a former co-worker.....yep, she knows me pretty well

Also from a former co-worker is this beautiful homemade lemon cookie. It was even hand delivered to my office.

Lastly on the "We Miss Nicole at Shahala" tour, is this absolutely gorgeous bouquet of peonies and a Dutch Bros giftcard from Kaylee. Kaylee used to work in the front office, but took over my position as Registrar when I moved on to my new school. She hand delivered these fantastic goodies as a thank you for helping with questions/situations that arise in her new role. I was beyond grateful for this show of appreciation. The flowers smelled incredible!

My new co-workers are nice and generous as well. To avoid falling asleep, I take a walk outside a few times a day. Sometimes when I arrive back at my desk, there are treats left for me from my snacky god-father. In this instance, there is a package of my fave flavor of Girl Scout cookies, a bag of Twisted BBQ Fritos and a Hershey bar.  How awesome is that??!!

This month Dylan had (another) knee surgery due to the same injury he experienced in 2021. Once the surgeon was able to see what he was working with, it was determined that Dylan's cartilage was too compromised for a complete repair so he ended up with a meniscus trim instead. The positive news is that it should be fully healed within 6 weeks and he can play football his senior year. 

He was pretty spacey when he woke up and kept saying we needed to "swing by school on the way home" to make sure his football team saw that he was OK. We compromised with a FaceTime call during 4th Period Weight Training class.

This photo was taken the same day as his surgery and he was up and walking a few hours later. This is turning into a much better recovery than last time.

Presley is a TA for Mrs. Clark, the computer teacher. Teague went to college with Mrs. Clark so we know her a bit better than most of Presley's teachers. What a fun surprise when they showed up dress like twins one day!

This year I was spoiled on Mother's Day. Presley made me some lemon cupcakes from scratch.

Maddox bought me this beautiful bouquet.  How precious are they???

Dylan posed for a pic with me....a rarity these days.  Love them so!

Mother's Day pic 2025

It also happens to be the very 1st family pic with Baby Fairclough in it.  Yes! Briar and Jake are having a baby!!!  We're all so very excited!

If you look closely, you'll see that this is COCO snuggling on my lap.  This NEVER HAPPENS so I had to get a pic.

Presley and I were invited on a trip to Lake Shasta with a fellow cheer family. We spent a long Memorial Day weekend on the lake tubing, attempting to surf, swimming and enjoying the cutest log cabin with swimming pool. The weather was fabulous and we made the most of it.

Not only was this Presley's first time tubing or on a boat, but it was her first time outside of Washington/Oregon!

The amazing (but freezing!) pool

The best part about the 7 hour drive home was a pit stop at In-n-Out!

The rest of the month was a flurry of wrap-ups: grades, classes, sports, etc. We're looking forward to great weather and summer break!